Tokyo Drift (and a Whole Lot of Confusion): My Week in the Concrete Jungle
okay, so. tokyo. where do i even begin? i’m a touring session drummer, right? usually, i’m hauling gear across Europe, playing smoky clubs, eating questionable street food. this was… different. the numbers 1850144 and 1392536374? don’t ask. some weird booking code, apparently. i just checked and it’s drizzling, a persistent, almost apologetic kind of rain, there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
I landed, bleary-eyed, and immediately felt like i’d stepped into a sci-fi movie directed by Wes Anderson. Everything is so… precise. So clean. So organized. It’s beautiful, honestly, but also a little overwhelming. I’m used to chaos, you know? A drum kit exploding on stage, a spilled beer, the general mayhem of a gig. This was… quiet.
My hotel was in Shinjuku. Tiny. Like, really tiny. But hey, it had a view. And a heated toilet seat. Priorities, people. I spent the first day just wandering, getting hopelessly lost, and marveling at the sheer density of everything. The neon signs, the vending machines selling everything imaginable (including corn soup, apparently), the crowds… it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way. I ended up in a tiny ramen shop - seriously, like six seats - and had the best bowl of noodles of my life. I’m putting it on TripAdvisor right now: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g1086572-Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture.html. You need to go.
Someone told me that the Golden Gai area is a must-see for anyone wanting a taste of old Tokyo. Apparently, it’s a network of tiny, ramshackle bars, each with its own unique vibe. I checked it out - it’s definitely… something. Very atmospheric. Very smoky. Very… small. I felt like I was going to bump into someone every five seconds. Yelp has some decent reviews: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Golden%20Gai&find_loc=Tokyo.
I tried to find some decent vintage shops. I’m always on the hunt for a killer band tee or a weird jacket. I ended up in Shimokitazawa, which is apparently the place for that kind of thing. It’s a bit more laid-back than Shinjuku, with a really cool, artsy vibe. I found a few gems, but the prices were… steep. I’m thinking of hitting up some online auctions when I get back.
I spent an afternoon in Shibuya, just watching the scramble crossing. It’s insane! Hundreds of people just surging across the street at once. It’s like a beautifully choreographed chaos. I even managed to get a decent video for my Instagram. (Follow me! @drummerdude - shameless plug, I know.)
I overheard some drunk salaryman telling his friend that the Tsukiji Outer Market is the place to go for the freshest seafood. Apparently, the inner market moved, but the outer market is still thriving. I’m definitely going to check it out before I leave. I’m also looking at some local forums for recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/tokyo/.
If you get bored, Yokohama and Kawasaki are just a short train ride away. I didn’t have time to explore them properly, but I heard they’re worth a visit. The temperature hovered around 5.46°C, feeling like 5.46°C, with a pressure of 1014 and humidity of 54%. Not exactly beach weather, but hey, it’s Tokyo.
Honestly, this trip was… a lot. But in a good way. It’s a city that challenges you, that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. And that’s exactly what I needed. I’m already thinking about when I can come back. Maybe next time, I’ll learn a few more Japanese phrases. Or at least figure out how to use the public toilets without looking like a complete idiot.
Pro-tip: Get a Suica card. Seriously. It’ll save you a ton of hassle on the trains. And learn how to bow. It’s a thing. Trust me.
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